Arizona Bike Tour - Desert Winter Sunshine

Come Join us in Arizona! Experience the Sonoran Desert and bike past the giant saguaro cactus. Journey through open rangeland and past rugged rock formations as we bike through this unique landscape. Join us in sharing the rich history of Arizona: Hispanic architecture, food and culture as well as the cowboy culture of Tombstone, Bisbee and other wild-west towns. Our Arizona bike tour is a perfect introduction to the natural beauty and historic traditions of the Southwest.

The Lodge On The Desert: Lodge on the Desert was built as a private residence in 1931. The family compound was purchased by Homer and Cornelia Lininger and opened for business as Lodge on the Desert in 1936 with seven guest rooms. From 1936 to today, Lodge on the Desert – in design and operation – has remained true to its Southern Arizona roots . . . it is at once authentic, charming, historic yet contemporary. It reflects its southwest heritage . . . simply and completely. You can visit their web page by clicking here

Canoa Ranch Resort: Guests of our Green Valley resort will stay in luxuriously appointed guest rooms and suites, many offering sweeping views of the tranquil and stunning Arizona landscape. Explore nature at your leisure with their hiking and biking paths. Whether coming for adventure or relaxation, the Canoa Ranch Resort offers guests the serenity of one of Arizona’s most picturesque locations. You can visit their web page by clicking here

Sonoita Inn: Inspired by Secretariat and designed by his owner, Margaret Charmichael, the Sonoita Inn is a one-of-a-kind western country lodge nestled in the high grasslands of Southern Arizona. Each room is named in honor of a local ranching family, and the decor is elegantly southwestern. Guests at the inn are perfectly located for hiking, biking, birding, boating, fishing, horseback riding, winery visits and shopping. You can visit their web page by clicking here .

Ramsey Canyon Inn: Named one of the Top 10 Bed and Breakfasts in Arizona by The Arizona Republic, The Ramsey Canyon Inn sits amidst the hummingbird capital of the United States. The garden at the inn was planted and designed specifically to attract butterflies and the 15 species of hummingbirds known to reside in the area. Guests will also enjoy coffee and tea in the afternoons with generous helpings of blue ribbon pies make from fruit grown on the property. You can visit their web page by clicking here

Tombstone Bordello: Rumored to have been a Wild West house of ill-repute run by Big Nose Kate, long-time companion to Doc Holliday, the Tombstone Bordello is rich in history and western lore. With names like Scarlett Lady, Fallen Angel and Diamond Annie, the rooms reflect the inn’s sordid past. Guests at the Bordello will feel themselves swept back in time as they tour defunct mines and old west saloons or watch a reenactment of the gunfight at the O. K. Corral. You can visit their web page by clicking here

Copper Queen Hotel: Opened in 1902, the Copper Queen Hotel is Arizona’s oldest continually operating hotel. In its day, the Copper Queen Hotel was considered quite modern with two-foot thick concrete walls and an open-air hallway along the southeast wall to keep it cool in the summer, Italian mosaic tile on the floors of the lobby and the entrance and cathedral ceilings fitted with tiffany glass. Guests today can enjoy a dip in the solar-heated pool, a Pickaxe Barbeque Pork Sandwich on the outdoor patio or a visit from one of the three ghosts in residence. You can visit their web page by clicking here

Arrival and Departure: This tour will originate and terminate in Tucson, AZ. Escapades will assist with hotel arrangements and local transportation both before and after the tour.

Daily Mileage Options: 25 to 45 miles with longer and shorter options available on all days.

Day 1: Arrival in Tucson Day one of the bike tour we meet for introductions and bike fittings. In the evening, guides and guests will meet for a dinner of wonderful southwestern delights.

Meals: Dinner

Day 2: The Western Sonora Desert and Desert MuseumDay two of the bike tour is rich with great bike riding and wonderful things to see. We will bike through the magic of Saguaro National Park with majestic cacti of all shapes and sizes, the deep colors of the mountains, rock formations and wild life. We will stop and lunch at the fabulous Arizona Sonora Desert Museum where you will have a chance to walk through the desert, observe the wild life and desert plants, attend lectures and visit an art show. There are several restaurants at the museum including the Ocotillo Café that offers a great southwestern lunch made from locally grown products. After lunch we bike to our lodgings in Green Valley with an optional visit to the historic Mission San Xavier del Bac .

Meals: Breakfast and Dinner

Day 3: Green Valley to Sonoita

We bike from Green Valley in the morning, riding along the Nogales Highway to Sahuarita Road, which traverses range land with low-growing cacti, mesquite and grasses, with a backdrop of colorful rock formations and mountains. During the last part of the route, we bike through the Santa Rita foothills to the grassland prairies near Sonoita. We will stay at the Sonoita Inn, dedicated to the great racehorse Secretariat.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 4: Sonoita to Sierra Vista

The bike ride to Fort Huachuca is a delightful tour on quiet roads over rolling terrain with beautiful scenery crossing through the Coronado National Forest. You will bike to Fort Huachuca, an army base established in 1887. The buildings of the old army post have been declared a National Historic Landmark, and one is now a museum dedicated to the many forts that dotted the Southwest in the latter part of the 19th Century. We will bike through Sierra Vista and then onto Ramsey Canyon Road pedaling up the canyon to the lovely Ramsey Canyon Inn located immediately next to The Nature Conservancy's Ramsey Canyon Preserve. World-famous bird watching awaits those who are interested.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 5: Sierra Vista to Tombstone

Day five of the bike tour is a relaxing day with a lovely ride to Tombstone and a chance to explore this interesting town. Most of the biking is on the quiet, scenic Charlestown Road. Along the road, you will see little dome-like hills, which rise out of the desert and dot the countryside. We will lunch in Tombstone and then explore this old, restored western town.

Meals: Breakfast

Day 6: Tombstone to BisbeeToday our bike route traverses desert and range land with almost no cars. The trip offers a real view of pure, unspoiled desert and plenty of quiet countryside. We will enjoy a picnic lunch along the way. Entering Bisbee, you will get a good view of the copper mine, the great traditional industry of this part of the world. Bisbee is perhaps one of the best preserved, western towns in America. We will stay at the famous old Copper Queen Hotel.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 7: Colossal Caves to Saguaro Park EastFor our final ride of the bike tour, we start off from Saguaro Park East and head out the Old Spanish Trail to Colossal Caves Park. We will celebrate with a delicious gourmet picnic lunch in the park and say, "Happy Trails to you until we meet again." Transportation to the airport for afternoon departures.